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Monday, May 28, 2012

The long awaited
nominations are finally out for the 6th Annual Spirited Awards which will be
handed out at during July’s cocktail lovers festival, Tales of the Cocktail, in
New Orleans. Below is a press release from the Tales team. We also added the
Loungerati predictions and our crew will be in attendance for the presentation
of awards.

“Following a rigorous
evaluation of hundreds of nominees, ten finalists for each award category have
been chosen for the 6th Annual Spirited Awards®, recognizing
the year’s best bars, bartenders, writers, experts and more. American and
international judging committees comprised of the most respected minds in the
cocktail industry selected the finalists for the 17 award categories. Winners
will be announced Saturday July 28 at the Spirited Awards® ceremony being held
at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, as part of the Tales of the Cocktail®10th
anniversary celebration.

“The Spirited Awards® ceremony is the night when the
cocktail industry can step out from behind the bar to receive the recognition
it deserves,” said Ann Tuennerman, Founder of Tales of the Cocktail®.

Through its annual Spirited Awards®, Tales of the Cocktail®
recognizes the bartenders, bars, writers and cocktail experts that continue to
push the cocktail industry into new, exciting directions. To embody the ideals
with which Tales of the Cocktail® was originally founded, these awards were
developed to recognize both national and international honorees across 17
categories. From these top ten, the top four finalists from each category will
be invited to attend the award ceremony on July 28, 2012. These top four
finalists will be announced June 22, 2012. Each award recipient will
receive an exclusive Riedel Crystal trophy.”

American Bartender of the Year

Eric Alperin

Jamie Boudreau

Derek Brown

Marcovaldo Dionysos

Charles Joly

Vincenzo Marianella

Ivy Mix

Jeffrey Morganthaler

Joaquin Simo

Naren Young

Loungerati
prediction: Ivy Mix for her talented drink making and 'above and beyond' work on Speed Rack, a competition by female bartenders against breast cancer.

Best American Brand Ambassador

Erick Castro

Elayne Duke

Jamie Gordon

Guillaume Lamy

Gaston Martinez

Jackie Patterson

Todd Richman

Jim Ryan

Nick Van Tiel

Neyah White

Loungerati prediction: Real tough one here between
Todd Richman and Jim Ryan. We need to see the sales figures but our bet is on
the ubiquitous Todd Richman whose territory for Sidney Frank seems to be
EVERYWHERE!

Best American Cocktail Bar

Anvil Bar & Refuge – Houston, Texas

Bourbon & Branch – San Francisco, California

The Drawing Room – Chicago, Illinois

Dutch Kills – Queens, New York

Clover Club – Brooklyn, New York

Columbia Room – Washington, District of Columbia

Harvard & Stone – Los Angeles, California

La Descarga – Los Angeles, California

Mayahuel – Manhattan, New York

The Varnish – Los Angeles, California

Loungerati
prediction: Anvil Bar & Refuge. This year maybe the year when the
honors go to a non-coastal city bar. If it does, Anvil is the logical choice.

Best Bar Mentor

Bridget Albert

Sven Almenning

Julio Bermejo

Wayne Collins

Francesco Lafranconi

Chris McMillan

Steve Olson

Julie Reiner

Thad Vogler

Dushan Zaric

Loungerati
prediction: So many inspiring bar mentors on the list but only one can win.
We believe Julie Reiner (Clover Club, Flatiron Lounge, Lani Kai, Pegu Club)
will take the honors - she is certainly due.

Best High Volume Cocktail Bar

Beretta – San Francisco, California

Clover Club – New York, New York

Craft & Commerce – San Diego, California

Eastern Standard – Boston, Massachusetts

Flatiron Lounge – New York, New York

La Descarga – Los Angeles, California

Macao Trading Co. – New York, New York

Sable Kitchen & Bar – Chicago, Illinois

Seven Grand – Los Angeles, California

The Tippler – New York, New York

Loungerati
prediction: Jackson Cannon’s Boston crew from Eastern Standard will take
this one.

Best Cocktail Writing – Author

Jenny Adams

Jarden Brown & Anastatia Miller

Paul Clarke

Wayne Curtis

Dan Dunn

Gary Regan

Robert Simonson

Jason Wilson

Dave Wondrich

Naren Young

Loungerati
prediction: Will this be another year when a blogger wins best cocktail writing?
Well sort of, Robert Simonson who writes for the NY Times and "Make it Simple but
Significant" blog will sneak by the favorites like “I’ll Have Another” at
PIMLICO.

Best Cocktail Writing – Non Book

Barchick.com

Barlife UK

Find. Eat. Drink.

Food Republic

Liquor.com

Mutineer Magazine

Saveur

Shakestir.com

Tasting Panel

Time Out NY

Loungerati
prediction: Shameless NYC support - If there was a standard bearer for the
return of craft cocktails in the print media it would be Jordana Rothman
bar/lounge editor of Time Out NY.

Best International Brand
Ambassador

Colin Asare Appiah

Jacob Briars

Ian Burrell

Tal Nadari

Matt Pomeroy

Jamie Terrell

Manuel Terron

Claire Smith

Angus Winchester

Brian Van Flandern

Loungerati
prediction: If anyone is due it is Angus Winchester of Tanqueray. The Tonight
We Tanqueray
campaign has thrown some of the best parties of the year and kept the brand on
everyone’s radar.

Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book

The American Cocktail by the Editors of Imbibe

Beta Cocktails

Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All

Gaz Regan’s Annual Manual for Bartenders 2011

Home Bar Basics

Living Loaded: Tales of S*x, Salvation and the Pursuit
of the Never Ending Happy Hour

The Mixellany Guide to Vermouth & Other Apertifs

PDT Cocktail Book

Loungerati
prediction: We would love nothing better than to have Gaz Regan’s Annual Manual for
Bartenders 2011 win since one of Fredo’s cocktails is included
in the 101 Best; however, the tide is with Jim Meehan's must have PDT Cocktail Book.

Best New Product

Bombay Sapphire East

Chairman’s Reserve Spiced Rum

Cocktail Kingdom’s Blue Blazer Mugs

Cognac Pierre Ferrand 1840 Formula

Fee Brother’s Gin Barrel Aged Orange Bitters

Lillet Rose

Perlini System

Redemption Rye

Steve Schneider’s Standard Issue Ice Mallet

Tomr’s Tonic Syrup

Loungerati
prediction: What a year for great new bar products. From the iconic
Standard Issue Ice Mallet for Steve Schneider to Lillet Rose and Tomr’s Tonic
Syrup. Our bet is on Lady Lillet Amanda Boccato and her delightful rose.

Best Restaurant Bar

Bar Agricole – San Francisco, California

The Beagle – New York, New York

Beaker & Flask – Portland, Oregon

Heaven’s Dog – San Francisco, California

Lani Kai – New York, New York

No. 9 Park – Boston, Massachusetts

Rivera – Los Angeles, California

Sable – Chicago, Illinois

Saxon + Parole – New York, New York

Slanted Door – San Francisco, California

Loungerati
prediction: The Beagle puts the cocktail in the forefront; it will be
regaled on award night.

International Bartender of the
Year

Massimo Greco

Misty Kalkofen

Zdenek Kastanek

Alex Kratena

Max Larocca

Sam Ross

Michael Madrusan

Shawn Soole

Phil Ward

Dushan Zaric

Loungerati
prediction: Chances are Dushan Zaric (Employees Only, Macao Trading Co)
will pick up where his bar left off last year and take the prize. But Michael
Madrusan from Everleigh could be the surprise of the night.

World’s Best Cocktail Bar

69 Colebrooke Row – London, United Kingdom

Black Pearl –Melbourne, Australia

Callooh Callay – London, United Kingdom

Clover Club – New York, New York

The Connaught Bar – London, United Kingdom

Drink – Boston, Massachusetts

Eau de Vie – Sydney, Australia

Mayahuel – Manhattan, New York

Nightjar – London, United Kingdom

The Varnish – Los Angeles, California

Loungerati prediction: Last year Sydney, Australia
stepped up with Eau de Vie, this year the honor will pass to London’s 69
Colebrooke Row.

World’s Best Cocktail Menu

Aviary – Chicago, Illinois

Bar le Forvm –Paris, France

Black Pearl – Melbourne, Australia

Callooh Callay – London, United Kingdom

Clover Club – New York, New York

Mayahuel – Manhattan, New York

Raines Law Room – Manhattan, New York

The Roosevelt – Sydney, Australia

Sable – Chicago, Illinois

Whistling Shop – London, United Kingdom

Loungerati
prediction: Clover Club, which continues to take nominations across
all categories for good reason.

World’s Best Drinks Selection

Artesian at The Langham – London, United Kingdom

Canon – Seattle, Washington

Capri Lounge – Cologne, Germany

Daddy-O – New York, New York

Death & Co. – Manhattan, New York

Eau de Vie – Sydney, Australia

Sable – Chicago, Illinois

Salvatore’s at The Playboy – London, United
Kingdom

Sanctuaria – St. Louis, Missouri

Widder Bar – Zurich, Switzerland

Loungerati
prediction: I just think it would be fantastic if Daddy-O won this award.
Phil has turned Steve Crane’s industry favorite into a true egalitarian bar
that can satisfy NYU students to cocktail connoisseurs.

World’s Best Hotel Bar

Artesian at The Langham – London, United Kingdom

Clive’s Classic Lounge – Victoria, British
Columbia

Clyde Common – Portland, Oregon

The Connaught – London, United Kingdom

Lantern’s Keep at The Iroquois Hotel – New York,
New York

Roomer’s Bar – Frankfurt, Germany

Sable Kitchen and Bar at Hotel Palomar –
Chicago, Illinois

The Spare Room at The Roosevelt – Los Angeles,
California

Vesper Bar at The Cosmopolitan – Las Vegas,
Nevada

The Zetter Townhouse – London, United Kingdom

Loungerati
prediction: We love what Meghan Dorman and Theo Lieberman have done with
Lantern’s Keep at the Iroquois Hotel.

World’s Best New Cocktail Bar

Aviary – Chicago, Illinois

Candelaria – Paris, France

Canon – Seattle, Washington

The Everleigh – Melbourne, Australia

Happiness Forgets – London, United Kingdom

Harvard & Stone – Los Angeles, California

Maison Premiere – Brooklyn, New York

Mother’s Ruin – New York, New York

Whistling Shop – London, United Kingdom

The Zetter Townhouse – London, United Kingdom

Loungerati
prediction: Maison Premiere is not only our choice but yours as well. I
mean oysters and absinthe, it is almost unfair to the others.

Tickets to the Spirited Awards® ceremony can
now be purchased online at TalesoftheCocktail.com for $65.00 for individuals or
$650.00 per table of 10 seats. The Spirited Awards® are just one part of the
historic 10th Anniversary Tales of the Cocktail® being held in
New Orleans July 25-29, 2012. Visit the Tales of the Cocktail®
website to learn more about the week’s spirited schedule of events.

Monday, May 21, 2012

There are lots of great events happening around town this week but we hard boiled them down to our top three lounge picks. First, take a surreal trip into the double vision world of David Lynch's Twin Peaks curated by burlesque temptress Francine The Lucid Dream. Then sport your finest vintage inspired threads and get your jazz fix on at a double header of Jazz Age Harlem and Dorothy Parker Wit's End madness! Make sure a gin martini is in your mix.

Those who have been following the adventures of Francine “The Lucid
Dream” this past year will know that she is no stranger to sweet treats
or dual-identities. While everyone is familiar with the tasty donuts
that often frequent Francine’s David Lynch Burlesque shows, not
everyone has faced their own doppelgänger. This is not a celebrity
Facebook profile picture, this is a double walker of a paranormal and
spiritual nature with a very Lynchian twist on it. Come meet Agent
Cooper – both of them! If Laura Palmer won’t talk to you, maybe her
brunette cousin, Madeline, will!

If you bring your own
doppelgänger, he or she gets in free! (This applies to actual identical
twins or people in convincing Lynchian costume. If a dwarf brings in an
arm, they both get in free!)

Friday, May 25thThe Esquire Room with Dandy Wellington and His Bandat The Rum House

Step into the era of elegance and class where fancy was in fashion and
fantasies began with the pop of a cork. Enter a place where the crowd
is sophisticated and melodies float through the room like bubbles in a
glass of champagne. Dandy Wellington and His Band invite you...
to engage in a night of sartorial splendor, majestic music and lavish
libations, where the sounds of Jazz Age Harlem come alive under the
lights of Broadway. The Rum House at the Edison Hotel47th btw Broadway and 8th Ave 9:30pm-12:30amFree Saturday, May 26thWit’s End and the Dorothy Parker Society invite you to celebrate the social life of the Jazz Age with Gelber and Manning!

Come in your finest 1920s & 1930s vintage or vintage inspired
evening attire and celebrate in style with live hot jazz, vintage
cocktails and good times!

Live jazz from Wit’s End regulars Gelber and Manning! Playing traditional jazz, vaudeville music and new songs from the turn
of the century, Gelber and Manning are a Brooklyn-based musical
vaudeville duo, comprised of Jesse Gelber on piano and Kate Manning on
vocals.

Kimberly Fay Greenberg (One Night With Fanny Brice) will be a special guest in our salute to vaudeville!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Loungerati’s top pick for This Week in Lounge is The Salon’s Silver
Screen event at Rebel NYC on Friday May 18th. Besides the all-star line
up of hot jazz musicians, ladies of striptease, and retro DJs, Loungerati’s
Fredo from Loungerati and Hanson Place’s Nino Cirabisi will be stirring and shaking
craft cocktails. What is not to love?

“Travel back in time to the golden age of silent films for a night glamour and frivolity!
A hot jazz band and dancing in the main room, plus silent films accompanied
live in the Lounge by BEN MODEL from MoMA’s silent film series.

As the night gets late, our bawdier and naughtier
side emerges with scintillating burlesque - we'll dance with our friends from FRIDAY
NIGHT BLUES till the wee hours to live blues music, plus stag movies from the
1920s and French Postcards... a night not to be missed!

Live Music by:DREW NUGENT & THE MIDNIGHT SOCIETY

on the Main Dance Floor from 8
to 10:30pm

BLISS BLOOD: Moonlighters / Delta DreamboxBliss plays mixed rep from her bands in the Lounge
from 10:30pm till late

JERRY DUGGER BANDLate blues dancing on the main dance floor, with
Friday Night Blues from 11pm till late

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

This Saturday, May 5th is a veritable tri-fecta of major drinking related events. Supporters of English football will soak in the lager while sporting heavy weights Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC battle for the silver in the annual FA Cup. Expect pubs to be showing the match and a sea of red and blue kits battling for supremacy.

It is also Cinco de Mayo, a national Mexican holiday celebrating the victory over an invading French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Tequila, Mezcal, Dos Equis, Margaritas, and even a few Mexican Firing Squad Specials will be flowing at the bars while revelers munch on mucho grande amounts of Mexican food.

When you are finished with England and Mexico, come back to your Ole' Kentucky home and celebrate a true American tradition in style at the most exciting two minutes in the sport - 138th running of The Kentucky Derby. The Derby party is as "lounge" as it gets and combines everything we love: a chance to dress up sharp, fancy cocktails in silver chalices, and a sporting wager.

We recommend the following destinations to enjoy the finest mint juleps in a crowd of clad in seersucker and elegant straw hats.

Maison Premiere - Annual Derby Party featuring Four Roses Bourbon

12pm -8pm

Fresh off the victory winning Best New Cocktails Award by TimOutNY, Maxwell Britten and his crew of dapper drink slingers will be throwing one hell of a pre-game BBQ in Maison Premiere's backyard. Icy platters of oysters will be plentiful and an extensive menu of mint juleps served in silver beaded tins will be available. The House Band starts at 3 and goes to 7. The Derby will also be
broadcast live on the cocktail den’s famous old fashioned radio from
6:28 to 6:30.

Bulleit Bourbon will provide complementary passed hors d' oeuvres and mint juleps. Mixtresses Elayne Duke
and Julie Reiner will set up shop in the front of Clover Club with their julep bar
again this year. They will wear fancy hats, and crank out juleps for all. Oh yeah, there will be a very short horse
race shown;) Don't miss it!

The gang at Rum House break out the julep cups, crushed ice, and copious amounts of mint and partner with Maker's Mark for Julep drink specials. Come watch "the most exciting two minutes in sports" on the big screen
with Maker's Mark cocktails and fabulous prizes. There will be food.
There will be hats. And there will be ponies.

The Rum House at the Edison Hotel - 228 West 47th Street, New York, NY - 646-490-6924

My money is on Stay Thirsty (20:1) to take the derby and Chelsea to win the cup!

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Keep your eyes open for Loungerati sponsored events and cocktail menus near you!